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Perhaps, in every language, there are words that are naturally poetic. In Filipino, there are such words that have probably been tucked deep inside the heirloom chest because they were, for example, last famously used in Balagtas’ Florante at Laura. However, due to the call of the times, (“panahon,” meaning “time” and “panahon,” meaning weather), it can be used when giving advice to people who are recovering from natural disasters.

One word that comes to mind is “talusaling” (fragile). If we’re talking about people, it means, “onion-skinned” or “someone who easily gets emotionally affected.” If we’re talking about things, it means “easily broken,” like a crystal flower vase.

The two root words are “talo” (defeated) and “saling” (touch). Defeated by touch. If you remember, the word “saling” is also in the title of Jose Rizal’s book Noli Me Tangere. (Touch Me Not)

Talusaling – easily defeated by touch, even at the slightest.

Its relevance to the times: it appears in the translation of a certain country’s government advice for handling things that easily break, after a flooding or a storm.

One can also use the word delikado (delicate) to translate into Filipino, which can mean fragile; but it can also mean dangerous, but not both in the same breath. This can be confusing in this context. Sometimes the right word is the poetic word. When that moment comes, should we, lovers of language, turn our backs?

Let’s Soar Together!

It’s been six years since we took to the (virtual) skies as @twitter_ph for the Filipino community on Twitter. Its intention was to support and encourage the use of the Filipino language on Twitter. Because there was a need, it also helped our fellow-Filipinos and the Philippines during times of disaster. It helped popularize the use of the unified hashtags #rescuePh, #reliefPh, #floodPh, etc. for the rescue and relief of those affected by the Philippine tropical storms.

During these times, especially during Typhoon Pablo and unforgettable Super Typhoon Yolanda, the life of the Filipino community online was bayanihan (being heroes to one another): the air that we breathed was bayanihan, the rice that we ate was bayanihan, the hope that we held dear for the safety and well-being of our family, friends and the whole nation was – and still is –- bayanihan.

We, Filipinos, love Twitter because a word spreads faster here than the tremors of an earthquake, what we say is brief but packs power, and most of all, it has the capacity to bring about change when the voices of its users are amplified. For good or evil, for what’s beautiful and what’s ugly, whether we like it or not, the voice of an individual, whether they’re a celebrity or a nobody, becomes the voice of the crowd, if the crowd chooses to adopt it as its own. This is the power of Twitter, This is also the power of saying and hearing (or, rather, writing and reading) something on Twitter in our own tongue.

So as we change our name and our profile photo, the only things that really change are our representation and how we are called. Our objectives, missions, and essence remain the same: to promote and support the use of Filipino on Twitter and be one with our fellow-Filipinos and the Philippines in times of joys and victories, as well as in times of trouble and disaster, especially in the context of climate change.

@DiwaPH Diwa Philippines – because this is our essence, thought, soul, meaning – spirit – as Filipinos. Haribon (the king of birds) as our image – because we humbly, yet steadily, hold a lofty goal in taking to the skies and Tweeting in our mother tongue.

Thank you very much for your continued support and follow! Soar with us as we move onwards as @DiwaPh Diwa Philippines!